Immune Priming Promotes Thermotolerance, Whereas Thermopriming Suppresses Systemic Acquired Resistance in Arabidopsis.

Heat stress and pathogens are two serious yield-limiting factors of crop plants. Plants that previously experienced high but sub-lethal temperatures become subsequently tolerant to higher temperatures through the development of acquired thermotolerance (ATT). ATT activation is associated with the elevated expression of heat shock (HS)-related genes such as HSFA2, HSFA3, and HSP101.

RSI1/FLD and its epigenetic target RRTF1 are essential for the retention of infection memory in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Plants can retain a memory of previous pathogen infections to mount a more robust defense response during subsequent infections by developing systemic acquired resistance (SAR). However, the mechanism through which plants develop and retain infection memory is not known. Experiments have shown the association of epigenetic modifications of specific defense-related genes with SAR.

POWERDRESS positively regulates systemic acquired resistance in Arabidopsis.

PWR, an epigenetic regulator, and PIF4, a transcription factor coordinately regulate both local resistance and systemic acquired resistance in Arabidopsis. A plant that gets infected once becomes resistant to subsequent infections through the development of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Primary-infected tissues generate mobile signals that travel to systemic tissues and cause epigenetic changes associated with the SAR activation.

TOPLESS in the regulation of plant immunity.

This review presents the multiple ways how topless and topless-related proteins regulate defense activation in plants and help in optimizing the defense-growth tradeoff. Eukaryotic gene expression is tightly regulated at various levels by hormones, transcription regulators, post-translational modifications, and transcriptional coregulators. TOPLESS (TPL)/TOPLESS-related (TPR) corepressors regulate gene expression by interacting with other transcription factors.

MTO1-RESPONDING DOWN 1 (MRD1) is a transcriptional target of OZF1 for promoting salicylic acid-mediated defense in Arabidopsis.

OZF1 promotes the transcription of MRD1, which is essential for SA-mediated defense against virulent and avirulent bacterial pathogens in Arabidopsis. Salicylic acid (SA) is critical for defense against biotrophic pathogens. A trans-activator protein NPR1 plays significant roles in SA-signaling.

AtOZF1 positively regulates JA signaling and SA-JA cross-talk in .

Plant hormones regulate growth, development, and defense against biotic and abiotic stresses. Salicylic acid (SA), ethylene (ET), and jasmonate (JA) are major phytohormones that control the defense against pathogens. SA and JA primarily regulate resistance against biotrophic and necrotrophic pathogens, respectively.

MYC2 influences salicylic acid biosynthesis and defense against bacterial pathogens in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Arabidopsis MYC2 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that works both as a negative and positive regulator of light and multiple hormonal signaling pathways, including jasmonic acid and abscisic acid. Recent studies have suggested the role of MYC2 as a negative regulator of salicylic acid (SA)-mediated defense against bacterial pathogens. By using myc2 mutant and constitutively MYC2-expressing plants, we further show that MYC2 also positively influences SA-mediated defense; whereas, myc2 mutant plants are resistant to virulent pathogens only, MYC2 over-expressing plants are hyper-resistant to multiple virulent and avirulent strains of bacterial pathogens.

Recent advances in plant thermomemory.

This review summarizes the process of thermal acquired tolerance in plants and the knowledge gap compared to systemic acquired resistance that a plant shows after pathogen inoculation. Plants are continuously challenged by several biotic stresses such as pests and pathogens, or abiotic stresses like high light, UV radiation, drought, salt, and very high or low temperature. Interestingly, for most stresses, prior exposure makes plants more tolerant during the subsequent exposures, which is often referred to as acclimatization.

Systemic acquired resistance specific proteome of Arabidopsis thaliana.

A comparative proteomic study between WT and SAR-compromised rsi1/fld mutant reveals a set of proteins having possible roles in the SAR development. A partly infected plant shows enhanced resistance during subsequent infection through the development of systemic acquired resistance (SAR). Mobile signals generated at the site of primary infection travel across the plant for the activation of SAR.

DORMANCY/AUXIN ASSOCIATED FAMILY PROTEIN 2 of Arabidopsis thaliana is a negative regulator of local and systemic acquired resistance.

To fine tune defense response output, plants recruit both positive and negative regulators. Here we report Arabidopsis DORMANCY/AUXIN ASSOCIATED FAMILY PROTEIN 2(DAP2) gene as a negative regulator of basal defense against virulent bacterial pathogens. Expression of DAP2 enhances upon pathogen inoculation.

MEDEA-interacting protein LONG-CHAIN BASE KINASE 1 promotes pattern-triggered immunity in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Arabidopsis LONG-CHAIN BASE KINASE 1 (LCBK1) interacts with MEDEA, a component of PCR2 complex that negatively regulates immunity. LCBK1 phosphorylates phytosphingosine and thereby promotes stomatal immunity against bacterial pathogens. Arabidopsis polycomb-group repressor complex2 (PRC2) protein MEDEA (MEA) suppresses both pattern-triggered immunity (PTI) and effector-triggered immunity (ETI).

Structural characterization of a heteroglycan from an edible mushroom Termitomyces heimii.

A water soluble heteroglycan (THPS) of an average molecular weight ~1.98 × 10 Da was isolated from the aqueous extract of the fruit bodies of an edible mushroom Termitomyces heimii. Structural characterization of THPS was carried out using acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation and 1D/2D NMR studies.

CaMPK9 increases the stability of CaWRKY40 transcription factor which triggers defense response in chickpea upon Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. ciceri Race1 infection.

Physical interaction and phosphorylation by CaMPK9 protects the degradation of CaWRKY40 that induces resistance response in chickpea to Fusarium wilt disease by modulating the transcription of defense responsive genes. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) are the global regulators of plant defense signaling that modulate immune responses in host plants by regulating transcription of downstream target genes upon challenged by pathogens. However, very little is known about immune responsive role of Cicer arietinum L.

APD1, the unique member of Arabidopsis AP2 family influences systemic acquired resistance and ethylene-jasmonic acid signaling.

Arabidopsis AP2 FAMILY PROTEIN INVOLVED IN DISEASE DEFENSE (APD1) is a member of AP2/EREBP super-family that positively regulates SA biosynthesis and defense against virulent bacterial pathogens. Here we report additional roles of APD1 in plant defense and development. We show that APD1 function is required for light-mediated defense against bacterial pathogens and systemic acquired resistance (SAR).

The Polycomb-Group Repressor MEDEA Attenuates Pathogen Defense.

Plants recruit positive and negative regulators for fine tuning the balance between growth and development. Negative regulators of pathogen defense generally modulate defense hormone biosynthesis and signaling. Here, we report a mechanism for attenuation of the defense response in Arabidopsis (), which is mediated by the polycomb-group repressor MEDEA (MEA).

Rice MYC2 (OsMYC2) modulates light-dependent seedling phenotype, disease defence but not ABA signalling.

Arabidopsis MYC2 (AtMYC2) is a bHLH class transcription factor that mediates light-dependent seedling development, disease defence, JA and ABA signalling. AtMYC2 gene modulates hypocotyl elongation and expression of chlorophyll A/B binding protein 1 (CAB1) and rubisco small subunit protein1 (RBCS1) under blue light. The atmyc2 mutants are resistant against virulent bacterial pathogens.

AtOZF1 Positively Regulates Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens and NPR1-Independent Salicylic Acid Signaling.

Plant hormone salicylic acid (SA) plays critical roles in defense signaling against biotrophic pathogens. Pathogen inoculation leads to SA accumulation in plants. SA activates a transactivator protein NPR1, which, in turn, transcriptionally activates many defense response genes.

Studies on structure and antioxidant properties of a heteroglycan isolated from wild edible mushroom Lentinus sajor-caju.

A water-soluble heteroglycan (PS-I) isolated from the aqueous extract of a wild edible mushroom Lentinus sajor-caju showed average molecular weight ∼1.79×10Da. The structure of the polysaccharide was determined using chemical and 1D/2D NMR experiments.

GBF1 differentially regulates CAT2 and PAD4 transcription to promote pathogen defense in Arabidopsis thaliana.

G-BOX BINDING FACTOR 1 (GBF1) influences light-regulated seedling development in Arabidopsis, and inhibits CATALASE 2 (CAT2) expression during senescence. CAT2 functions as a scavenger of hydrogen peroxide. The role of GBF1 in the defense response is not known.

CBL-interacting protein kinase 6 negatively regulates immune response to Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis.

Cytosolic calcium ion (Ca2+) is an essential mediator of the plant innate immune response. Here, we report that a calcium-regulated protein kinase Calcineurin B-like protein (CBL)-interacting protein kinase 6 (CIPK6) functions as a negative regulator of immunity against the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae in Arabidopsis thaliana. Arabidopsis lines with compromised expression of CIPK6 exhibited enhanced disease resistance to the bacterial pathogen and to P.

Arabidopsis thaliana GLUTATHIONE-S-TRANSFERASE THETA 2 interacts with RSI1/FLD to activate systemic acquired resistance.

A partly infected plant develops systemic acquired resistance (SAR) and shows heightened resistance during subsequent infections. The infected parts generate certain mobile signals that travel to the distal tissues and help to activate SAR. SAR is associated with epigenetic modifications of several defence-related genes.

Structural elucidation and immunostimulating property of a novel polysaccharide extracted from an edible mushroom Lentinus fusipes.

A water soluble heteroglycan (PS-II) with an average molecular weight∼60kDa was isolated from the hot aqueous extract of an edible mushroom Lentinus fusipes. The structural characterization of PS-II was carried out using total acid hydrolysis, methylation analyses, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation and 1D/2D NMR experiments. Total acid hydrolysis indicated the presence of D-galactose and D-glucose in a molar ratio of approximately 1:1.

Structural characterization and antioxidant activity of a glucan from Meripilus giganteus.

A new water soluble glucan (MGPS), with a molecular weight ∼1.48×10Da, was isolated from the fruit bodies of Meripilus giganteus by hot water extraction followed by purification through dialysis tubing cellulose membrane and sepharose 6B column chromatography. Its structural characteristics were investigated by acid hydrolysis, methylation analysis, Smith degradation and 1D/2D NMR experiments.

Heteroglycan of an edible mushroom Pleurotus cystidiosus: Structural characterization and study of biological activities.

A water soluble heteroglycan (PCPS) was isolated from the aqueous extract of an edible mushroom Pleurotus cystidiosus. Structural characterization of the heteroglycan was carried out using total hydrolysis, methylation analysis, periodate oxidation, Smith degradation, and 1D/2D NMR experiments. Sugar analysis indicated the presence of glucose, galactose, and mannose in a molar ratio of nearly 6:2:1 respectively.

Arabidopsis thaliana methionine sulfoxide reductase B8 influences stress-induced cell death and effector-triggered immunity.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) oxidize methionine to methionine sulfoxide (MetSO) and thereby inactivate proteins. Methionine sulfoxide reductase (MSR) enzyme converts MetSO back to the reduced form and thereby detoxifies the effect of ROS. Our results show that Arabidopsis thaliana MSR enzyme coding gene MSRB8 is required for effector-triggered immunity and containment of stress-induced cell death in Arabidopsis.